The Carrero Heart - Beginning (Friends to Lovers)

The wedding party is insane. Carreros know how to throw a good one and their house is dolled up and trussed up like the best function lounge in the world. Marquees out back and wide-open rooms that have all been cleared in the last ten days. I hardly recognized it when we got here and even the dance floor in the heated tent where we had our first dance was cozily illuminated to the hilt with fairy lights and disco balls. They have pulled out all the stops for this one.

Glitz, glamour, food and four bars complete with bartenders and waitresses, all wandering around the milling guests as a live band in the huge gardens get people dancing. The neighboring houses have opened their grounds for seating and quiet areas as they are long-time friends and guests and this place is probably a lot bigger than most venues could have offered.

Our meagre guest list somehow turned to more than we could count once word got out and even though I know a lot of pictures have been taken, Arrick made sure his legal team are going to clamp down on naming me or showing me on any publication or website.

I know it’s dumb to want to still hide, but my sanity and security depends on knowing my parents can never find me or get in touch with me. He knows how important that is and spent the last two weeks practically living at Carrero Corp putting things in place and sending out a million legal letters to all guests, media who may show, or anyone else about the usage of images from the ceremony or reception. I felt like a diva that he had to do it, but he kept telling me he understood and to leave it to him. Arrick took care of it. He always does.

I’m not drunk, even though I want to be, as every time he hands me champagne, I feel like I’m going to throw up and keep leaving full glasses lying around rather than tell him I’m queasy. I aim to enjoy our wedding reception and have managed to get about two glasses down me all night from the multiple metallic tasting sips.

I have no idea why I still feel unwell. It’s been over two weeks of sitting quietly sewing and taking it easy while recovering. I know I should have seen a doctor, but I have been too busy and too focused, and I hate to admit it, too scared to face what I might feel in that sort of exam. I’ll go, soon. After we come back from the week out at sea on his dad’s boat in warmer weather. Maybe I really need more time, no wedding plans, or emotional rollercoasters; just the two of us, sun, sea, and sex. Realistically it’s only been a couple of weeks and my body probably needs a few more to really calm down.

Arrick has his arms wrapped around me from behind as we laugh at a joke Jason makes about his old ‘ball and chain’ and Claire smacks him in the back of the head Sassily. He throws an arm around her shoulders and pulls her in to the group with a kiss on the cheek.

Leila is molesting Daniel in a corner now and clearly already worse for the wear, while most of my family are halfway to drunk themselves. Except my Mom, she isn’t much of a drinker anyway and she is swanning around twinkly eyed and merry, making sure everyone enjoys themselves. Always taking care of everyone else.

Rylanne and my dad disappear together when he starts to get drunk. I try to ignore it, but I know my brother is back on that slippery slope to alcoholism. The affair was the warning signal of him heading off the rails again and I am glad I no longer live at home, having to deal with him this time. Bree is nowhere to be seen and I guess after the ceremony she couldn’t face the party knowing he would drink. Rylanne is so lost and I have no head space for him. My other brothers are milling around and much like me they seem to have washed their hands of him tonight, even Ben gave up and left him to my dad. I think everyone feels like they cannot help someone who does not want to be helped.

Forget him. Not my problem anymore.

I’ve been kissed, cuddled, teased and so much more all night and now everyone is settling into merry groups as the night moves on. Our little crowd of our closest friends surrounding us, and everything seems right with the world. Paris seems like another lifetime. I want to forget all of it and focus on the here and now and not the tomorrow. My life and my career can wait until after Christmas next month and we are more settled as newlyweds. I still can’t believe I married him and that my name is now Sophie Carrero.

Excitement tingles through me every time that thought crosses my mind and I tug his hands around me a little more firmly to squeeze him. Resting the back of my head on his chest as we stand in a huddle of friends. Despite my extreme happiness, I am about dead on my feet, but I don’t want anything to ruin my merry buzz while I am enveloped in my husband’s body. Warm and safe and utterly content.

I catch a glimpse of Jake tugging Emma out a side door suggestively and I don’t have to guess where they are heading. Both of them are pretty drunk and I already caught sight of him groping her on the dancefloor earlier. Carreros and their undying libido; just as well they marry women who can keep up.

I glance up at Arricks jawline, he’s leaning slightly over me while he talks to Nathan and I’m like a little teen girl with a major crush. Eyeing up the hunky popular boy that you never think you have a hope in hell of getting. I doubt my adoration for him will ever wain. He’s so perfect.

Everyone here is waltzing around looking crazily happy and Giovanni has been taken off to bed by Sylvana now he has had a little food and fun. She’s been like a mother hen since he got out of the hospital. He’s recovering well and on daily meds to make sure he stays that way. Arrick told me he is withdrawing from Carrero Corp a little more and it’s probably a great thing he swooped back in to take a third of control back. All of them are fine now, bridges mended, and life seems back to normal.

“It’s all downhill now.” Nathan butts in and Jenny shoves him playfully with a look of mock fury.

“Hey!” She pokes him in the face, and he swoops in to capture her in an embrace that leads to a steamy kiss. They still seem really great together, even if they have had their ups and downs and getting closer to two kids to go with it. I am warmed by the fact that they are still so very much in love as Nathan runs a hand over her growing bump. It gave me some heartache when I saw her again but now, I can separate her baby bundle and accept it and be happy for her. She deserves happiness. I love Jenny.

knew what I was getting myself into. Sophie is not for the feint hearted.” Arrick jests and I elbow him

ass… Maybe you’re not an easy ride either.” I stick my tongue out at him and he looks down

He laughs dirtily, and I blush at the way I walked straight into that one. Nathan and Jason both laugh and high five

Claire tuts,

looks ready to

great food.” Nathan interjects and gets

Arrick shrugs and they all gawp at him

Why in the hell would you marry one that can’t cook. What’s wrong with you?” Nathan seems genuinely outraged as Jenny bursts into a giggling fit, Claire looks unimpressed and I frown at my husband like I am not sure if he’s

puts all her energy into one gift… Sophie’s lack of

an

time. Especially as his joking at how great in bed I am isn’t true. We haven’t had sex in weeks. The men all laugh and make weird dirty gestures and nods as though he

us; cooking, neat freak and all that, so one of us had to have the bedroom skills to make it worthwhile.” I jut in sassily and raise a wicked eyebrow at him as

looks genuinely unimpressed that I told his

Burn, Bitch!

played jibe and all that. Commotion in the room pulls everyone’s attention over the noise of a bustling party and as everyone turns or leans to see what’s going on with a drunk woman by the buffet tables

ears only and the shivers of anticipation practically rip my clothes off. I have been horny as hell for the last few days and almost made him break our celibacy agreement on more than one

closer. My lack of sexual appetite has been replaced with constant naughty dreams and crazy longings. I even butt humped Arrick in a bid to get a quickie when he was leaning over the coffee table yesterday morning and got a look of ‘Baby, what are you doing?’ before

with easy access from its shorter length and simple design. I may or may not have designed this dress with thoughts of having it easily removed at speed and high five myself

nudge him with my butt to move him back as way of answer and smile at our group of friends. Christian is already in a corner with some bartender, seeing as he’s newly single and on the pull and wandered away ten minutes ago. The rest seem to be engrossed in the woman now being on the floor with a platter of prawns and

he’s discarded his jacket and bow tie and is walking around in an open collared, untucked white shirt over black pants. He’s also a little more drunk than most and smiling like the cat who got the cream. I love when he looks slightly ruffled and has less pristine hair. Casually laid back due to alcohol and extremely open to all kinds of fun when he’s in this mood. I have a longing for a special kind of fun. A little hotter and harder than sweet honeymoon sex. Although knowing him, our ‘first time’ is probably going to be crazy

the gardens. I smile and kiss him back. Secret code for yes and get a subtle wink in reply. We are so getting out

drunk folks; a lot are ogling the same commotion on the floor, so it’s relatively easy. I make a swift exit to the quiet little side

Arrick picks me up and wraps me around his waist, silencing me with a kiss as he moves me back against the house. He practically pins me to the

He smiles, full on and

bounces me up a little higher for a comfier grip and I rest

you’re my wife. Today has been crazy surreal.”

novelty will wear off soon and you will wonder what the hell you did this for.” I giggle as he

exactly what I have been waiting on for two years.”

on that little nose of his. If he has loved me for eight, then he needs to learn to count. He grins at me

around him as though trying to jog my memory. I frown and look around at this nothing little space of concealed garden and realize what he’s getting at.